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The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

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Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina s congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Myorkas.

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Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

ND Planners Have New Disaster-Recovery Tool

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Wednesday, March 30, 2022   

Blizzards, droughts and tornados are disasters many North Dakotans have experienced. With the spring storm season underway, local governments are reminded of a tool to determine if their residents will have a harder time recovering from these events.

The U.S. Census Bureau said its new Community Resilience Estimates tool compiles certain characteristics of a county, such as socio-economic factors and transportation options.

Bethany DeSalvo, statistician and demographer at the Bureau, said they then use the data to predict how vulnerable a household is in the face of something like a flood or tornado.

"What we mean by 'vulnerable' is not having the ability to cope with the external stressors of the disaster," DeSalvo explained.

Examples could include overcoming language barriers in seeking disaster assistance. DeSalvo pointed out the tool can help local planners come up with more resources in a vulnerable area, including evacuation spaces.

According to the bureau, roughly 20% of residents across North Dakota have three or more risk factors. Almost 40% have one or two.

DeSalvo emphasized a key goal is to establish more equity in disaster recovery, and she said it can help reduce government costs in rebuilding after a storm.

"With the effects of climate change, you may see more and more expensive disasters," DeSalvo projected. "Planning ahead of time and mitigating the things that can be mitigated is a really good goal."

In addition to local governments, DeSalvo noted it can be a vital tool for FEMA, by helping the agency determine the number and type of personnel to deploy.

North Dakota's Grant County has a population of only 2,300, but more than 30% have at least three risk factors for disaster vulnerability.

Pat Diehl, emergency manager for the county, sees the resource as a useful tool, noting the county has emergency shelters, but faces barriers in equipping them with onsite generators.

"People who might be on oxygen that require electricity to run those compressors, well, all of a sudden, that becomes a very concerning factor," Diehl remarked.

He added the data can be used for the county's multi-hazard mitigation plan, which is up for renewal.


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